Vehicle



June 28, 1927. 1,634,021

E. CURRAN ET AL VEHICLE Filed Sept. 4. 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l Patented June 28, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,634,021 PATENT. OFFICE.

Etienne CUBRAN, or CARDIFF, AND JOHN Josnrn HIGKEY, or LLANISHEN, 11m

' CARDIFF, WALES. U

VEHICLE.

Application filed September 4, 1925, Serial No. 54,569, and in Great Britain June 30, 1925.

This invention relates to vehicles of the kind in which the floor comprises or includes one or more hinged flaps so that the'bottom is divided generally into two halves about 6 a longitudinal central line and the two halves can be arranged either symmetrically and extending upwards to the sides from the middle or in line, so as to extend obliquely across the truck in which latter position the contents may be automatically discharged.

The invention has for its object to provide improved means whereby the movable flap or flaps may be supported in raised position when the truck is loaded and during transportion;

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangement whereby the movable flaps may be supported intermediate their extreme positions.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing which shows a railway wagon of which the floor comprises six hinged flaps pivoted about a central rod and arranged three on each side.

Fig. 1 shows a side view, modified as follows.

In the left hand panel, the flap nearer the observer is broken away, in the centre panel, the supports or struts for the nearer flap are not illustrated, and in the right-hand. panel the counterweight for the further flap is dotted for the sake of clearness.

Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of Fig; 1 showing the truck in loading condition.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation showing the truck in the discharging position. 7

Fig. 4 illustrates a modification in end sectional elevation, and Fig. 5 shows a further improvement applicable to any of the previous forms.

Referring now to the drawing, the end frame of the truck is shown of ordinary construction and the body comprises two closed ends and two sides having three openings 1 positioned below an upper vertical wall 2. The floor of the truck comprise-s three pairs of hinged flaps, 3, lpivoted to a longitudinal bar 5 supported in blocks 6 carried by a longitudinal beam 7; The flaps 3 (nearer in Fig. 1) are supported by T-iron straps 8 secured to the hinge knuckles 9, and the flaps 4 by straps 10 secured to knuckles 11. To each of the hinged flaps 3 are secured a pair of straps 12 supporting a counterweight 13 (Fig. 2) which normally keeps the flap in the raised position, and the flaps 4 are provided with a pair of straps 14 supporting a counterweight 15. The free ends of the flaps are'adapted to be supported by struts 16 hinged adjacentto the free ends of the flaps and provided at their lower ends with rollers17 adapted to run on transverse braces, the lower ends of the struts being adapted to be. drawn inwardly for the purpose of releasing the flaps by means of one or more connecting rods 18 adapted to be moved transversely by means of a hinged handle 19. Obviously the connectingrods maybe'threaded and operated by means of a crank if desired. In the erected position of the struts, the rollers 17 abut against sheaves'or sockets 20 and are prevented from inward movement by means of cross pins 21 passing through'the walls .of the sockets. Preferably, the three supporting struts of each side are connected by a cross brace 22 as shown in'Fig, 1. I

Catches of any suitable or known form are provided for securing the edges of the flaps to the lower edge of the side wall 2. In practice, I prefer the known form of catch in which a hook 23 carried by the flap is.

passed upwardly through a hole in ahorizontal bracket 24 mounted on the wall 2 and is thereafter'held in the raised position by a notched sliding bar 25 of which the notch is adapted to'be moved away from the position' in which it registers with the lip of the hook.

' It will be realized from the description already giventhat theflaps normally assume the upwardly-inclined position illustrated in Fig. 2, and that when the catches are engaged and the struts are firmly secured in the vertical position by themeans described the truck is'readyfor loading. For discharge,,all that is necessary is to release the catches and pull away the lower ends of the struts 16 at one side of the truck, whereupon the flaps'of that side will fall down under the weight of the load to the position illustrated by 3 in Fig. 3, and the contents of the truck will be discharged under gravity sliding over the inclined bottom.

"It should here be "mentioned that owing to'the removal of a considerable portion of the usual side wall of the truck the ends of the truck and the supports of the side pieces 2 require considerable strengthening.

Although the invention as hitherto described has included three pairs of flaps to each side of the truck it will be realized that two pairs or one pair only may be employed where found desirable. As a rule, where more than one pair is used, the truck may be divided by partitions such as that indicated at 30 in Figs. 2 and 3 into compartments so that the load discharged by lowering one flap may approximate to the load capable of being carried by a road vehicle. Such partitions serve to strengthen the construction of the truck. here, however, such partitions are not employed. preferably the stanchions 26 between the openings 1 will be strengthened by means of gussets 2.7.,

Fig. 4, extending into the interior of the trucl The ends may be strengthened by providing L-shaped straps of angle or T- iron the vertical lengths .of which are bolted to said ends, the horizontal lengths being bolted to the, longitudinal braces of the under-frame.

In Fig. 4 we illustrate .a modification in which the counterweights are dispensed with and the flaps are urged in the raised position by means of springs. Further, thesupporting struts 16 are arranged to run on supports 29 extending longitudinally of the truck in case this should be more convenient, any suitable means for holding them in the erect position, and releasing them therefrom in case of need being employed.

Fig. .5 illustrates the provision of two addition half doors 2?, 2.8 hinged respectively to the lower edge of the wall 2 and to the under-frame of the truck. When the truck is discharging or transporting heavy material, the half door27 is folded up behind the wall 2 and the half door 28 may be folded :beneath the flap and lie on the underframe of the truck, or in case of discharging may be extended to lie on a hinged support .33 as indicated on. the right hand side of Fig. 5. When the truck is transporting lighter material, however, both flaps may be held in horizontal position as indicated by the flap v3 in Fig. 5,. in which case the half doors 27, '28 are arranged vertically .as shown on the left hand side of F 5 .to close the opening in the side wall. Preferably, the half doors are provided with projecting lugs which passthrou-gh slots in the flap 3 and are thereafter held in place by cotter pins. By this means the carrying capacity of the truck can be substantially increased when a load of lighter material requires to be transported. I

For use in this manner, any suitable means may be employed for supporting the lower .ends of the struts 1 6 to. accommodate the intermediate position of the flap 4t, and suitable brackets 31 are provided on thestanchions '26 having lugs which may be rotated beneath the ends of the flaps 3 and 4t and provided with suitable fastening means to support it in the intermediate position. Further brackets 32 may be provided below the brackets 31 for raising the discharging level where found desirable.

It is to be understood that the term half doors does not mean that the two half doors are of equal width, as the upper half-door may be of any depth agreeing with the desired additional amount of capacity and consequent position of the catches on the framing whereby the flap is to be held in an intermediate position.

Obviously, in .all cases, the flaps overlie the framing or adjacent flaps so that the bottom of the truck is properly closed.

The invention includes the modification in which one of the half floors is permanently fixed in the raised position, the other half floor being tiltable, and adapted to be arranged either symmetrically or in line with the fixed half, which modification may be cheaper to. construct and satisfy requirements in the case of small gauge trucks working for example between a quarry and a wharf Where the discharge is only required to take place from one side.

We claim 2- 1. In a vehicle, a frame, a bottom formed in two parts, said parts constituting the full area of the bottom transversely ofthe vehicle, one part sloping down from the side of the vehicle to the middle, and the other part being hinged relatively to the first men,- tioned part, said hinged part being adapted to be held symmetricallywith or in line ith said first mentioned part, and a strut pivot ally mounted to the edge of the hinged member and adapted to rest on said frame to support said part in the symmetrical po sition. I

2. In a vehicle, a frame, a bottom formed in two parts hing-ed together longitudinally of the truck, said parts constituting the full width of the bottom transversely of the'vehicle, said hinged parts being a-oapted to be held symmetrically with or inline with each other, and a strut p-ivotally mounted to the free edge of each part and adapted to rest on said frame to support said part in the raised position.

In a vehicle, a body having side walls, an underframe, an opening in a side wall, a bottom including an outwardly-directed flap hinged centrally of the vehicle, said flap constituting the full width of the bottom from the central hinge to the side wall, the

free end of said flap being adapted to extend through said opening and the hinge of the flap being intermediate the height of said opening, means to support said flap at the top of said opening, comprising a hinged to said flap adjacent its free edge and adapted to stand up vertically on said underframe.

i. In, .a vehicle, a body having side walls,

strut Ice an undert'rame, an opening in a side wall, a bottom including an outwardly-directed flap hinged centrally of the vehicle, the free end of said flap being adapted to extend through said opening, and the hinge oi the flap being intermediate the height. oi said opening, means to engage said flap at the top ofsaid opening, means to support said tlap at the bottom of said opening, a strut hinged to the under face of said flap near its free edge, a roller mounted in the bot-tom oi said strut, and a horizontal member in said undertrame to support said roller.

5. In a vehicle, a body having side walls, an underframe, an opening in a side wall, a bottom including an outwardly-directed tlap hinged centrally of the vehicle, the free end of said flap being adapted to extend through said opening, and the hinge ot' the flap being intermediate the height of said opening, means to engage said flap at the top of said opening, means to support said flap at the bottom of said opening, a strut hinged to the under face of said' flap near its free edge, a roller mounted in the bottom of said strut, and a transverse race in said under-frame to support said roller.

6. In a vehicle, a body having side walls, an underframe, an opening in a side wall, a bottom including an outwardly-directed flap hinged centrally of the vehicle, the free end of said flap being adapted to extend through said opening and the hinge of the flap being intermediate the height of said opening, means to engage said flap at the top of said opening, means to support said fiap at the bottom. of said opening, a strut hinged to the under face of said flap near its free edge, a roller mounted in the bottom of said strut, a horizontal member in said undert'rame to support said roller, and means to lock said roller on said horizontal member when said strut is approxin'iately vertical.

7. In a vehicle, a body, having side walls, an underframe, an opening in a side wall, a bottom including an outwardly-directed flap hinged centrally of the vehicle, the free end of said flap being adapted to extend through said opening and hinge of the flap being intermediate the height of said opening, means to engage said flap at the top of said opening, means to support said flap at the bottom of said opening, a strut hinged to the under face of said flap near its free edge, a roller mounted in the bottom of said strut, a transverse race in said underframe to support said roller, and means to lock said.

roller on said cross brace when said strut is approximately vertical. 7

8. In a vehicle, a bottom formed in two parts, one part sloping down from the side of the vehicle to the middle, the other ot said parts being hinged relatively to the first-mentioned part, means being provided whereby said hinged partmay be held symmetrically with or in line with said firstmentioned part, and means to support said part in a position intermediate said posi- Lions.

9. In a vehicle, an underframe, a longitudinal rod supported centrally thereon, two outwardly-directed flaps hinged thereto and means whereby said hinged flaps may be held syn'in'ietrically with or in line with each other, and means to support said flaps in a position intermediate said positions. a

10. In a vehicle, a body including side walls, an underframe, a transverse vertical partition dividing said body into compartments, a similar opening to each side wall of each compartment, a bottom to each compartment comprising outwardly-directed hinged flaps adapted to tilt in said openings, means to hold said flaps at the top of said openings, means to hold said flaps intermediate said openings, and half doors hinged at the top of said openings adapted to close the openings left by and above said flaps in said intermediate positions.

11. In a vehicle, a body including side walls, an undertrame, a transverse vertical partition dividing said body into compartments, a snnllar opening to each slde wall of each compartment, a bottom to each compartment comprising outwardly-directed hinged flaps adapted to tilt in said openings, means to hold said flaps at the top of said openings, means to hold said flaps intermediate said openings, halt doors hinged at the top of said openings adapted to close the openings left by and above said flaps in said intermediate positions, and half doors hinged at the bottom of said openings adapted to close the openings left by and below said flaps in said intermediate positions.

12. In a vehicle, a body having side walls, an underframe, an opening in a side wall, a bottom including an outwardly-directed flap hinged centrally of the vehicle, the free end of said flap being adapted to extend through said opening, and the hinge of the flap being intermediate the height of said opening, means to engage said flap at the top,of said opening, means to support said flap at the bottom of said opening, a half door pivoted to the bottom of said opening, means to support said flap at the bottom of said opening, and means to support said halt door in line with said flap in said bottom position.

In testimony whereof we afiix our signatures.

EUGENE GURRAN. JOHN JOSEPH HIOKEY. 

